Automobile accessory



Jan. 3, 1950 Filed Dec. 19. 1947' v.1. M. STIFF ET AL' AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1950 J. M. STlFF r-:r AL

AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fild Dec. 19, 194;?

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Jan. 3, 1950 Filed Dec. 19,.

J. M. STlFF ET AL AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY Sheets-Sheet 5 a 9 a "'8 4 f r l r" r a "a lean I5 I //a 15a ma 10a Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED TENT 0mm apsarwf, f

John M; stmimmioni A pncanmnecenter 19, 1s4eg senai a'C-iaims. (0h MG-eeli) This invention relates to anaecesso'ny for an automobile-oi the sedantype, ai uzlithas 't it object to provide" an accessory 'i-n tlie -natur'e oi a platferm elementwhich can be-installied I sedan type automobile between the backs at the front seat anol' the front ed'ge of the bacls seat cushion thereby to provide with the seat cushion-"the floor oi a play pen compartment mj which one or. more small chiidreri cambespl'aeed and safely transported without requiringany special attention-' fromthe occupants of th'e front seat. 1

In one form oi the I invention the platform -ele"- ment extends the full width ofthe automobile from-one side to the other, which case the backs of the'irontseat and back seat' and the sides of the automobile" constitute the side wallsof the play-pen compartment.

In: another form of the invention theplatformele'ment'is divided fromiront to rear to form two separable sections so that when the-two sections are in use, the play pen compartment extends thev full width of the car, while if one of the sections is removed, the si'zeof the play pen compartment is correspondingly reduced, but provision is made forone person to occupy theend of the rear seat at that sideofthe automobile from which the platformsectiohhas been removed. In such casethe person occupying the rear seat may, if he. so desires, use; the-platform section remaining in the automobileasarest for his feet, thereby providing him withawestful change of position during along'journey.

When only one section of the platform element is used, and the space in the-rear 0f the-fr ont seat is to be occupied by achild, anend'memben maybe applied to the inner end of the-plat form section in use to provide an endwall fois the play pen compartment.

The compartment thus provided-by ourdri vention in the rear of the backseat of the automobile is large enough so that a" small cl'iildg; when placed therein, has ample room tomove about freely and to occupy himself with his.

b the 15801 our p atform elemQIit'isnot-to amt nemesis; Essen, lden', Mass No. 192mused a-- play compartrnent, it forms" a space which luggage may be conveniently stored? I fi furthehow' 'ettheinvention 'is to provide "-'-aceesscry such as above described is provided with supporting means by which it may be: supported the automebileeithe!" at a level the 136th shifa'e there: oiis'substantiaitv-fiush withtkfe-rean-seat cushion; on ate MWlevel-between the-front and back seats in: said platformi element Wilt just clear the om-em of thefloer et the automobile which iselevated to accommoeateth ch ive' shaft? In: ord ei :--t6 =give anunderstanding of our in ventiorig wehaveilius'trated'in the drawings some seiecteezembtennents 'there'ot w'hich will now be described; atteiw l-iich the novel ieatures will be pointed ont'in::the appended elair nsr inr-tne drawings; I

I Fig];:isafragmentary perspective view-show inn-cu automobile accessoryinstalled inan an: tOmOBflB P- 1 i l Ei'gz-:2fis =an:-unde r side perspective-view Show me the supporting. legsin position to support th oplattor-m elel l ient' in the' operative position shownsinil ig wll v Fig. 3- aaasimiiar view-showing the folding lees 'ftmeaand designed tosupport the'- pla;t-form element. inthe low 'pos'itiomshowrtin Fige- 6.

Figi' :is a perspective View of the-platform element showin'g t-ne 1egs :.ae-justee for supporting it-.in:- an operative position;

;Fig-.=.5 is aaiperspective vievv showing-the legs aidj 11355662103 supporting- --it in its inoperative or stored TpQSiliiOIi within the automobile:

. 6,- :is a1:- fragm'entai y..- set-iti'onal view shewingathe .platidrm el em'ent in its low' i'e'vel" stored position within? the antoinobiles Fig. 1 is 21a: fragmentary perspective view" ilgistnating: a". different embodiment of the inven- Fig. 8 is a fragmentary viewshowin'gthe-plat form elements: insta'ile'd in: an automobile and in its operative position;

Rig. 9 isase'cti'onal view illustrating a piatforin in Fig. 9

Figs-11 2 is a perspective view of-the other sec,- tionosthe platform member which tog'etlierwith the section shown-in Fig. Wmakes-a complete fis sat-perspective view of; the" detachable end menibeh employed in the embodiment shown 3 r platform extending the full width of the automobile.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one manner in which the two sections of the platform element are connected together.

In the drawings I indicates generally an automobile of the sedan type which is provided with the usual front seat 2 having a back 3 and the usual back seat 4 provided with a seat cushion 5 andabackB.

As stated above our novel accessory is in the nature of a platform element I which can be installed in the automobile between the back 30f the front seat 2 and the front edge of the back seat cushion 5, thereby to form with. said back,

seat cushion the floor of a play pen compart-' ment for a child, the front and rear walls of which compartment are constituted by the back 3 of the front seat and the back 6 of the rear seat, and the side walls of which compartment may be constituted by the sides 8, 9 of the automobile. In the'case of a two-door sedan these sides 8 and 9 might be the side walls of the automobile, while in a four-door sedan the side walls would be formed by the rear doors of the automobile. The platform element I is providedwith means for supporting it in its operative position flush with the top surface of the back seat cushe ion 3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 such supporting means is in the form of legs pivotally secured to the under side of the platform element and constructed so that when the legs are in one position, they support the platform element in its operative position shown in Fig. 8, while when the legs are in another position, they support the platform in a lowered or stored position between the back and front seats of the automobile.

The leg elements shown in Figs. 1 to 6 are indicated generally at In, and each leg is made with two sections, a long section I I and a short section I2. Each leg may conveniently be made of wire bent to the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and each leg presents the two bearing sections I3 which are in line with each other, and each of which is embraced by a bearing clip I4 that is secured to the under side of the platform element.

The bearing portions I3 thus constitute an axis about which each leg can be turned.

The legs are so formed that the long section I I and short section I2 occupy planes at right angles to each other, and each leg is so pivotally connected to the platform section that it may be swung into position with the short section I2 lying flat against the under side of the platform element and the long section II depending at right angles to the platform section as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, or the legs'may be folded into a position in which the long sections II lie against the under side of the platform element and the short sections I2 extend at right angles thereto as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6.

The platform element is preferably provided with a spring clip I5 for each leg which is adapted to engage the portion'lfi of the short leg section when the legs are swung to bring the long sections II into their operative position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. These clips I5 will thus serve to hold the legs in such operative position, but because of their resilient nature they permit the legs to be readily swung into the folded position shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

When the legs are in their folded position with the long sections II lying against the bottom of the platform element and the short sections I2 -'-"the' back of the front seat will be converted into extending at right angles therefrom, said platform element may be stored in the bottom of the automobile between the front and rear seats as shown in Fig. 6, and the short sections I2 of the legs are preferably so proportioned that when the platform element is supported thereon, it will just clear the longitudinally extending portion I"! of the floor I8 of the automobile which is raised to accommodate the drive shaft I9.

When the platform section is in its low-level position shown in Fig. 6, it may be used as a foot rest for the occupants of the back seat. .When the platform element isinstalled in the automobile in its raised operative position as shown Figs. 1 and 8, the space in the rear of a play pen, the floor of which is constituted by the platform element I and the rear seat cushion 5; the front and back walls of which are constituted by the backs 3 and 6 of the front and back seats, and the side walls of which are constituted by the sides 8 and 9 of the automobile, whether these sides be part of the permanent side walls ofthe automobile or whether they be in the nature. of the rear doors of a four-door sedan. If the doors of the sedan are properly locked and the rear windows are also properly closed, then one or more children can be placed in the play pen compartment thus provided and can be safely transported in the automobile without requiring any special attention from the occupants of the front seat. Inasmuch as the platformelement 7, when in its operative position, is substantially flush with the rear seat cushion 5, the floor of the play pen compartment will be level and free; from any obstructions so that a small child can move freely about in the compartment without injury. The said play pen compartment also provides an excellent bed on which a child may sleep comfortably and safely during an automobile trip.

Our improved platform element may be made as a one-piece unit as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, or it may be divided transversely from front to rear to form two sections Ia and II; as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 12. When the platform element is thus divided, we prefer to make the division such that the platform section Ia will be longer than the other section 7b. The platform section in may be provided with four legs Ifia as shown in Fig 10, said legs Ifia being constructed similar to the legs above described.

The shorter section lb may be provided with two legs Ilia, and means are provided for connecting the two sections Ia and 1b together at their meeting edges. One way of accomplishing this is to provide the short section To with depending fingers 26 at its inner edge which are adapted to engage sockets 2| formed in the inner edge 22 of the longer section Ia.

- If it is desired that the play pen compartment should extend from one side to the other of the automobile, then the two platform sections Ia and 1b willbe connected together and installed in the manner of the platform element 1 in Figs. land 8. .On the other hand, if it is necessary or desirable to provide room on the rear seat to accommodate one passenger, then the smaller platform section ?b will be removed and the longer platform section in. will be installed in the automobile as above described. The length of the platform section 7a is such that when so installed the. legs Illa at the inner end thereof will be located closely adjacent the raised portion I! of the automobile floor I8, and there will be sufficient space beyond the inner end of the platform section m for a passenger to occupy the end of the rear seat.

Where the platform section 1a only is used. we prefer to employ in connection therewith an end member 23 which forms the inner end of the play pen compartment. This end member has a width preferably corresponding to that of the platform sections and is provided with two depending fingers 25 adapted to be removably received in the sockets 2| as shown in Fig. 9. With this construction the end member may be removed if its presence is not necessary.

In Fig. 7 We have shown a somewhat different embodiment of the invention in which the platform element indicated at in is provided at each end with two sets of legs, a set of lon legs 25 and a set of short legs 26. The long legs 25 are hinged to the under side of the platform element and may be folded up thereagainst as shown at the right, Fig. '7, and when so folded, the short legs 26 may be used to support the platform element in its lowered stored position as shown in Fig. 6.

The longer pivoted legs 25 are connected to the under side of the platform by suitable hinges 27 and are held in their operative position by folding.

braces 28 of any usual construction, said braces being adapted to fold as the longer legs 25 are swung from their operative to their folded positions.

The compartment provided by the use of the platform element is large enough so that an adult may comfortably recline in it by lying diagonally thereacross, or if one section only of the platform element is used, a person occupying the end of the back seat may use said platform section as a rest for his feet.

The compartment provided by the use of the platform element has a substantially level floor, and if its use as a play pen compartment is not necessary, it can conveniently be used as a place to store luggage. The level floor of the compartment makes a level area of a size to receive large pieces of luggage.

In one section only of the platform element is used, thereby providing a space for a passenger on the rear seat, such passenger may, if desired, use the platform section as a foot and leg rest whereby such passenger may assume a semi-inclined position which may be restful during along automobile journey.

The platform element, as stated above, is removable from the automobile and when so removed, it may be used as a table fOr various pur- P poses, such for instance, as a table for use at picnics, or for any other desired use where a table outside of the automobile is required.

We claim:

1. An automobile accessory for an automobile of the sedan type, said accessory comprising a portable platform element of a width to fit between the seat cushion of the back seat of said automobile and the back of the front seat and of a length to extend from one side to the other of the automobile body, said platform element being divided transversely nearer one end than the other to provide along section and a short section which are separable from each other, means to support said long section at a level substantially flush with the top surface of the rear seat cushion, said short section having at its outer end legs to support said outer end at the same level as the long section and means at the meeting ends of the two sections to detachably support the inner end of the short section on the long section, said two sections when assembled forming with the back seat cushion a substantially level floor of a play compartment for children, the front and back walls of which are constituted by the backs of the front and back seats, the removal of the short section providing a play compartment of reduced size and also providing a space for a passenger at the end of the rear seat.

2. An automobile accessory for an automobile of the sedan type, said accessory comprising a portable platform element of a width to fit between the seat cushion of the back seat of said automobile and the back of the front seat and of a length to extend from one side to the other of the automobile body, said platform element being divided transversely nearer one end than the other to provide a long section and a short section which are separate from each other, means to support said long section in an operative position independently of the short section and at a level substantially flush with the top surface of the rear seat cushion, said short section having at its outer end legs to support its outer end portion in operative position at the same level as the long section, and means at the meeting ends of the two sections to support the inner end of said short section on the adjacent end of the long section, and at the same level, said two sections when thus assembled forming with the back seat cushion a substantially level floor of a play compartment for children, the front and back walls of which are constituted by the backs of the front and back seats, said short section being movable from its operative position without modifying the supporting structure of the long section, thereby providing a play compartment of reduced size and also providing a passenger space at the end of the rear seat and between the inner end of the long section and the adjacent side wall of the automobile.

. JOHN M. STIFF.

BERNARD G. E. STIFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,062,898 Drew May 27, 1913 1,208,053 Van Allen Dec. 12, 1916 1,333,924 Kay Mar. 16, 1920 1,577,232 Holly Mar. 16, 1926 1,599,247 Ridabock Sept. 7, 1926 1,959,974 Westgate May 22, 1934 2,329,213 Neutra et al Sept. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 292,499 Germany June 15, 1916 

